ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Jumps to Best-Since-Premiere Numbers

With the Dancing Final Four performance show and a special preview of Motive (prior to its debut this Thursday at 9pm), ABC was Monday's most-watched television network for the 5th consecutive week (topping all 4 Mondays of the May Sweep), outdrawing runner-up NBC by 3.1 million viewers. DWTS was Monday's most-watched TV show on each of its final 4 telecasts this season and finished as last night's #2 series in Adults 18-49. The Net took second in Adults 18-49, finishing 11% ahead of CBS' with the season finales of Rules of Engagement and Hawaii Five-0.

Jumping week to week in viewers (+11%) and young adults (+25%) to its 2nd-strongest numbers this season (best since season premiere 9 weeks ago on 3/18/13), ABC's Monday finale of Dancing with the Stars widened its lead over NBC's The Voice to another season-best 4.1 million viewers and once again narrowed the gap in Adults 18-49. While the ABC unscripted series grew its numbers, the NBC show continued its decline.

Earning strong sampling ahead of its Thursday premiere, ABC's special preview of Motive drew an average of 6.8 million viewers, topping NBC's Revolution by 1.0 million viewers and taking second to CBS' season closer of Hawaii Five-0.